To Protect Europe, Let Ukraine Join NATO—Right Now
Foreign AffairsDec 26, 2022
NATO Divided on Zelenskyy's Call for Ukrainian Membership
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Image copyright: Ukraine Presidential Press Office
The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy reissued calls for his country's membership of the NATO military alliance on Thursday, telling leaders at a European summit in Moldova: "Our future is in the European Union. Ukraine is also ready to be part of NATO. We are waiting for NATO to be ready to accept Ukraine."
NATO agreed in 2008 that Ukraine would eventually join the alliance, but no concrete steps have been taken since to make that a reality. At this week's summit, countries including Lithuania and Estonia were among the most vocal in supporting Ukraine's latest call for progress to be made.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Ukraine has heard many positive statements about its entry into NATO over the years, but they are yet to be backed up by actions. Now is the time to make that aspiration a reality, particularly as Ukraine has demonstrated it is so committed to defending Europe from Moscow. Fears of an escalation are misguided.
Establishment-critical narrative
NATO and its allies are continuing to violate every red line set down by Moscow. If the current course of action continues, NATO risks prompting a large-scale war with Russia. Escalation must be desperately avoided, meaning any potential enlargement of NATO must be shelved.
